This site has many articles that you can search on this topic, already. Still, some have a hard time with what the “called-out” is. So, I will produce another to clarify some more. The called-out represents the class of people known as the “saints” (“set apart for God’s exclusive purpose). When those people are classified…
For several years, I have been meeting with a few saints (biblical term for the called-out) to remember Christ and study from his last will and testament. We have no ties to a local church organization as we believe it is a creation of man that began after the old Judaic system ended, promoted by…
Historically, the post-apostolic Christians adopted this pyramid rule into their lives by shifting toward the organizational patterns of their culture. Ignatius was the first figure instrumental toward this shift and toward the elevation of one elder (called “Bishop”) who had ultimate power like Jesus, while the others stood in the position of the apostles under…
The English word “ordain” is used is from another word found in Acts 14:23 and 2 Corinthians 8:19. The later use finds Luke being “chosen of the churches to travel with Paul and his companions.” His selection was no more an official position in an institution as is the shepherds or evangelists. Albert Barnes commenting…
The scripture often quoted to justify a congregational treasury is 1 Corinthians 16:2, “Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.” The text clearly identifies “laying by him in store.” The pronoun “him”…
I’d like to continue to reason with you concerning 1 Peter 5:2. That which is described as being “among him” were souls that were God’s heritage and his responsibility to shepherd. I use to make a big point of using 1 Peter 5:2 where Peter tells the overseers to “feed the flock of God which…
Given the description of the individual responsibility of Shepherds and the saints, there is no violation of local autonomy because there were no local churches in these towns (Remember the ekklesia is always in the singular in each town). But, even though brethren met in a variety of homes and not necessarily all together in…
At the start of this century, I began to write on matters concerning the church. I first thought that nothing I wrote would be anything that someone else has not already addressed and done well. I realized that while many had taken the task, it did not fully represent what I believe about the church….
Historically, the post-apostolic Christians adopted this pyramid rule into their lives by shifting toward the organizational patterns of their culture. Ignatius was the first figure instrumental toward this shift and toward the elevation of one elder (called “Bishop”) who had ultimate power like Jesus, while the others stood in the position of the apostles under…
Of course, if one’s view of the church is an organization like the Synagogues, then leadership is narrowly defined as being those individuals who oversee or superintend the organization, especially when they gather into one place. Interestingly, the Greek word archon is used to define Jewish rulers, imperial Rome (Romans 13:3), Christ’s rule (Romans 15:12)…